Dear Friends,
Namaskaram!
Ramana Maharshi (30 December 1879 – 14 April 1950) was born as Venkataraman Iyer, in Tiruchuli, Tamil Nadu, India. In 1895, an attraction to the sacred hill Arunachala and the 63 Nayanmars was aroused in him, and in 1896, at the age of 16, he had a “death-experience” where he became aware of a “current” or “force” which he recognized as his true “I” or “self”, and which he later identified with “the personal God, or Iswara”, that is, Shiva. Six weeks later he left his uncle’s home in Madurai, and journeyed to the holy mountain Arunachala, in Tiruvannamalai, where he took on the role of a sannyasin.
He attracted devotees that regarded him as an avatar and came to him for darshan. In later years an ashram grew up around him, where visitors received ‘spiritual instructions’ by sitting silently in his company asking questions. Since the 1930s, his teachings have been popularized in the West, resulting in his worldwide recognition as an enlightened being.
Ramana Maharshi approved a number of paths and practices, but recommended self-inquiry as the principal means to remove ignorance and abide in Self-awareness, together with bhakti or surrender to the Self. In this issue, we have given some of his quotable quotes.
This month, our front page covers an inspiring story of a centenarian, Pappammal receiving Padmashree Award this year.
In happenings section, we have covered (i) Training programme on farming technologies (ii) Commissioning of Biogas plant (iii) Seminar on “Role of Traditional Siddha Varma Therapy for Fever” and release of a new book on “Varma Maruthuva Kaiyedu-II (iv) Radio talks and usual Networking and (v) Two interesting case studies on Biogas technologies etc.
In the wisdom section, Gustavo Esteva, Mexican activist relates the development with disasters, Carlos Castaneda, an American author describes how most of the people waste their life because of
conditioning and finally Deepak Chopra, proponent of alternative-medicines asserts that “Magical thinking” is possible if one can control reality with one’s mind.
For reading the newsletter, please click here.
G.Vasudeo,
Secretary,
Vivekananda Kendra – NARDEP,
Kanyakumari – 629 702,
Tamilnadu.
Mobile : 09442646296, 04652 246296 (office)
Email : vknardep@gmail.com
Web : www.vknardep.org & www.greenrameswaram.org